Day-night watch



06.8 1968 j TRIPET ETAL'IY 3,404,521

DAY-NIGHT WATCH Filed Oct. 5, 1966 40 32 IIIIIUHIIIII ll 'INVE/W'O'R.

JEAN TIP/PET I JOHN OELET/PAZ' A aNlGHT wArc ri e n pet; Em e. a llphm l l a Gen va, W -E zerland, assignors to Gruen Industries, .Inc., New Yorl r Thisinvention relates generally to improvements in timepieces such as clocks, watches, and similar time keeping instruments. More particularly, the invention is directed to improvements in clocks, watches,and"-the like by means of which visual reading of the dial is facilitated. Specifically, the present invention has for its primary purpose the provision of improved means by which a watch or clock dial may be e asily read, not only during the daylight hours but'at night as well. s

A principal'object of'the present invention is to provide in a timepiece automatic means operative to effect a dial shifting whereby either of two complete sets of hour indicators or markers maybeviewed, selectively, on the face ofthe timepiece, one of the sets of markers being specially adapted for night time viewing.

A related object of the invention is to provide a timepiece including two complete sets of hour markers positionable automatically" to be viewed selectively and in which one set of markers may be any preferred type while the secondset of markers comprises luminous symbols adapted for viewing at night or under conditions of limited illumination.

*Yet' an'other object 'of' the invention is to provide a timepiece which includes, in a double dial system, a first dial movable arcuately with respect to a second dial for displaying, through the second dial, either of two sets of hour'markers carried by the first dial.

-Yet another object 'of the invention is to provide a watch movement which includes a dial carrying hour indications or markers arranged to form two sets, one set being suitable-for day-timeviewing and the other set beingspecially adapted for night-time viewing.

A related object of the invention is to provide a timepiece in which the hour markers comprise two complete sets arranged in alternation and carried on a movable dial, disc or 'ring positioned "below or 'beneatha fixed dial or watch face, the latter being provided with twelve openings, windows, or'apertures through which either series "ofmarkers may be viewed, selectively, at predetermined'time'periods.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically shifting the hour-indicating means, and in which the shifting occurs every twelve hours.

'A related-object-of the invention-is to effect the dial shifting through-the driving medium of the clock mechanisms itself, without any major alteration in the watch movement.--' 1 Other and further objects,-advantages, and features of the'invention will become apparent from the reading of the following specification taken" in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIGURE l'isa' perspective view of a wrist watch having day and night hour indicators embodying the present invention;

"" 'FIGURE 2 is a face view of a timepiece and illustfat ingschematically the annularly disposed spaced openings schematically,"one form of the movable dial-shifting FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken" substantially on the line 5--5 of FIGURE 3.

The aims and objects of the invention are accomplished by providing, ina timepiece such as a watch, amain dial orface plate with twelve cut outs or windows circumferentially spaced in a peripheral annular zone of the dial, at positions of the hours. A second dial or disc, rotatably supported beneath the watch face, carries hour markings in two sets equally spaced around the movable dial, the hour markings of one set being alternately arranged in relation to those of the other set. Finally that is provided" automatic means for shifting or rotating the movable dial, periodically and incrementally, to present, alternately, either of the two sets of markings through the cut outs or windows of the watch face.

The illustrative example provided in the drawings shows one form of means for effecting the change from one set of hour indications to the other, automatically. The timepiece itself contains clock-work mechanism of the usual type well known in the art; the mechanism is, therefore, not illustrated. The clock-work mechanism may be either mechanically or electrically operated, a mechanically operated mechanism being indicated more or less diagrammatically as its particular form does not constitute an essential part of the invention and needs no description here beyond an indication of the functional linkage.

Referring more particularly, to the drawing, there is shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, and particularly in FIG- URES 2 and 3, for purposes of disclosure, a watch 10 incorporating the teachings of the invention. In the simple exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated, the watch 10 is provided with a generally circular face plate or dial 14 which is fixedly in position, in the usual manner. The fixed dial 14 overlies and serves to mask a second dial or a ring 18 coaxially disposed with respect to the face plate 14 and rotatably mounted for controlled arcuate movement.

The rotatable dial or ring 18, in the simple form of the invention shown, bears two sets of hour indications or markers 22 and 24 equally spaced around its mar-gin, the hour markers of one set being alternately arranged in.

relation to those of the second set, as indicated schema:

provided with twelve openings, windoWs, cut outs, or.

apertures 28 spaced circumferentially in a peripheralannular Zone of the face plate and located at the positionsof the hours of an ordinary dial. Thus, through annular movement imparted at controlled time intervals to the rotatable ring 18, by mechanism operated by the clockmovement, first one series or set 22 of hour markers is periodic advance thehtime periods allocated to each o f the hour rn a rker, series 22 and 24v will be of equal duration, and that shift ing frorn oneset .of markers to the other-willaoccurevery,

twelve hours. For example, ina preferred arrangement of gearing and cams, the daylight markers22,worrldlqge visible through the windows 28 from the hours 6 am. to,

6 pm. while the radium treatedset ofqmarkers-24 would be visible through the same, windows 28 during the hours from '6 pm. until 6 am. 7 I, t The manner in which the rotatable ring 18 is periodically shifted, automatically, is described below withreference to FIGURES 3 and 4. As illustrated schematically in FIGURE 4, the rotatable ring 18 seats within and is slidably or rotatably carried in an inwardly opening endlessannular channel or slot or slideway 32 formed in a cooperating circumscribing annular bearing 40.

.The movably supported ring 18 is integrally formed with and carries on its inwardly extending face a number of regularly spaced teeth 44, which, in the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated, are 24 in number. Thus, upon successive advances, step-wise, the extent of arcuate or angular movement of the ring 18 corresponds to half the angular distance or half the arc distance between successive or adjacent openings 28 in the face plate 14. Through this simple arrangement, each step-wise displacement of the movable ring 18 effects a shift, arcuately, of the ring 18 so that, alternately, the two diiferentsets 22 and.24 of hour. markers are brought into coincidence with the apertures 28 of the watch face plate 14.

The periodic, angular, incremental shifting of the hour marking ring 18 may be effected through any preferred mechanical means, one such suitable mechanism beingillustrated schematically in FIGURES 3 and 4.. As shown, angular displacement of the ring 18 is achieved by means of a tooth-engaging cam 48 which is mechanically coupled with and actuated through a train of gear wheels 52. A gear wheel 56, fixed on the hour hand spindle 60, meshes with a second gear wheel 62 rotatably supported on a pin or shaft 66 suitably carried on the watch frame, and a gear 70 mounted coaxially with the gear wheel 62 meshes with still another wheel 74 mounted on a spindle 80. The cam 48 is mounted on-this same spindle 80- and rotates with the gear wheel 74. The gear wheel diameters in the gear train 52 illustrated are such that the gear wheels 74, and its associated cam 48, make one-half revo- -lution for each revolution of the gear wheel '56 and, thus,

of the hour hand 84. As shown in FIGURE 3, the. cam 48 is formed with two diametrically opposed projections 90 and 90a extending radially outwardly of the periphery 94 of the body of the cam 48 in positions to come into abutment with and positively to engage the teeth 44 of the ring 18, as the cam 48 rotates.

- It will be apparent that, in consequence of the arrangement described, for each rotation of the hour hand 84, or at 12-hour intervals, there will be a single stepping. or incremental shifting of the movable ring 18. Since, as previously described, the movable ring 18 carries 24 teeth, each shift of the ring will correspond to half of the arcuate distance between-adjacent or successive'windows 28 in the face plate 14' and, with each incremental angular shift, a given set of markings 22 will be shifted from its position of coincidence with the windows 28 and the other set 24 of markers will be shifted into coincidence so as to be viewed through the apertures 28. i

As shown in FIGURE 3, dial detent means are provided in" order to preclude inadvertent shifting of the movable ring 18'and further to establish positive mechanical action.-A pawl 100 pivotally mounted on a pin 104 is yieldingly and resiliently urged. radially outwardly-,of

sprin 100 stresses against and .Mwthe teeth-.44 m i dsh mm ran :18.--A=tongue portion 112 of the pawl extends into ;a notch 116 formed between two adjacent teeth, and edge portions 120 and 124 of the pawl abut edges of the respective adjacent teeth, whereby the ring 18 isrestra'ned against accidental movement and firmly h l '1' step in response cam 48 engages a ring ,tqo 4 1and actsf to shift the ring 18 angula rly,,.;the arcua te forjce. applied against the tooth 44 is sufficient to cause displacement of the pawl 100 and to pivot the pawl inwardly against the pressure of the spring -108, Asa result, :withclockwise' rotation of the cam 48, the tooth 44 slides along the edge portion 124 of the pawljuntil the" tongue 112 of, thepawl drops into the next adjacent notch116,]thusjestablishing afull,

one-step, incremental shiftof theiring '18. Incremental angular shifting is repeated every twelve hours. i

It is believed that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully'understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious thatnurnerous. changes may be made in the forn1,. construction, and arrangement of the severaL-parts without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificinganyof its attendant advantages, the form herein disclosed being a: preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

Whatisclaimedisz. i 1. In a timepiece includinga clock mechanism, a dial mechanism and hour-marking assembly providing improved clay-time and night-time viewing and comprising, in combination, i I

a fixed ,dial having ,tw

and regularly spaced in said fixed dial,

a movable rotatably-suppo a peripheral annular zone of rted dial coaxial withsaid fixed dial and positioned ,therebeneath, J a ring of teeth integrally formed with said movable dial, a cam rotated by the clock mechanism, and projection means carried by said camand rotatabletherewith, said projection means engaging cooperating said teeth of said movable dial to shift said movable dialan .-nularly in incremental steps at predetermined time intervals,

means for automatically effecting periodic unidirection-w al rotary shifting of said movable dial at predetermined time intervals and pomprisingdetent means retaining said movable dial firmly fixed in position .,against inadvertentmovement until positivevaction of said cam effects precisely-controlledincrementaf arcuate shiftingof said movable dialpsaid detent means comprising, in, combination, a pivotally? rnounted pawl, and spring-means yieldingly and resiliently urging said pawl against said ring of said;

movable ,dial, saidspring means firmly stressing said pawl against said, teeth ;of said-ring yettresponsive to opposing forces transmittedsthereagainst through said cam. to permit arcuate displacement of said movable dial in finite fixed-steps,- said steps being'defined by spacing of adjacent said teeth .of saidring and;

-- corresponding to one:half;ofthe Jarcuate separation between adjacent said said fixed dial, 'two separate complete :s

- a cented -of said: movableldiahnsaid' radial distance corresponding to aradlaldistance of said apcrtures" d said movable elve aperture s circumferentially;

regularly spaced apertures of cries of twelve-hour; markers carried circumferentially onasaidzmovable diahad jacent th'e peripherythereofisaid-sries being posi-n tioned coaxially and at the same radial distance'from series ibeing arranged in alternation with ,resp ective ,corresponding.

7 6 twelve hour markers of the other said series, and a ing correlated respectively with nominal day-light luminous coating applied to one said series to faciliand night-time periods. tate viewing of said markers during night-time periods, References Cited each said series of markers being adapted to be dis- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS played selectively through said apertures whereby during the first controlled time period a cor- {$563 gg ig responding one of said series of markers 1s exposed 582,879 1/1952 Meyer 58 58 through said apertures, while during a subsequent predetermined time period the other said series of markers is exposed through said apertures, the time 10 ROBERT WARD Primary Exammer' period of exposure of each said series of markers be- L. HEMBLEN, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE Washington, 0.6. 20231 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,404,527 October 8, 1968 Jean Tripet et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 3, "end" should read set line 24, "that" should read there line 47, "fixedly" should read fixed Column 3 line 51, "wheels" should read wheel Column 4, line 70, "cented" should read center Signed and sealed this 24th day of February 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, J1. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

